Aloha

For the past two weeks, Ron and I, along with my sister Diana and Phil, have been in Hawaii.  The first week we took a cruise around the islands and the second we stayed in Kona on the Big Island.  During those two weeks, I took 914 pictures and 16 videos.  Wow!

After leaving early on a direct flight from Phoenix, and thanks to the three hour time difference, we arrived in Honolulu at 11:35 am.

Even the restroom signs told us we weren't in Kansas (or Phoenix) anymore.

We were warmly greeted before we boarded the ship.

I checked out the cool paint job and the lifeboats while crossing the gangplank.  (More about those lifeboats later.)

We immediately hit one of the dining rooms and the land of gorgeous desserts.

After lunch we checked out the view of Diamond Head from our cabin.

And after looking down at the dock, wondered if we'd ever see our luggage.

Here is a map of the ship's route and stops.  Even with all the recent problems on cruise ships, I wasn't worried.  After all, we'll never be too far from land.

And here's our schedule of stops.  At the two overnight stops, we would be renting a car to tour around.

Then we attended the mandatory lifeboat drill.  Our assembly station was in the theater.  What's up with that?  I wanted to see my lifeboat.  Well, they did have one open for inspection.

Interesting.  And tiny.  Each lifeboat is supposed to hold 125 people, but when was the last time they loaded 125 of today's Americans?  Let's see, 18 lifeboats with 125 people equals 2250.  There are 2100 passengers and who knows how many crew.  Oh, I see, the remainder get to use one of these.

Who knows how they work, but I did find this picture.

But I'm not going to think about that and just remember we won't be too far from land.

We joined DJ Orlando for a tour of the ship.  In summary, if you want to eat, go to the back of the ship, or aft.  If you want entertainment, head to the front or forward.  He said it a lot more entertainingly.

 

Because of the time change and having gotten up at 4:30 am, Ron and I didn't make it to the entertainment that night.  

Promptly at 7 pm, we were off.  (Since it was dark at 7, this picture is from later in the trip, but I'm invoking creative license and using it now to set the stage .)